Gonna put family on smart phones...best I can do on Verizon???

[redgtxdi]

So, I'm around internet so much I really just don't need 3G/4G....but wife is 1year in already w her Droid Maxx & now she wants to get kids iPhones for graduation. Should I just jump in with both feet & go smart phones all the way around?

And how horribly raped will I get by Verizon if I stick w/ them? (we get small discount w/ wife's co.)

I know Tmobil's great right now but Verizon's network's king.

I know AT&T just did the 10GB shared for $160 which is good, but VZ's network's king.

Anything to know before walking into Verizon & getting raped?

 

[paperwastage]

for 4 people on Verizon 10GB + edge, it costs $100 + $15*4 (line monthly charge) plus $23-$27/phone (5c-5s) on Verizon EDGE = $268, minus discounts (alternative is the Verizon 2GB $60/month loyalty plan which gives you a phone subsidy)

do you know if you are in the t-mobile refarmed area? your Droid Maxx only supports t-mobile 1900mhz and at&t HSPA+, could buy 1 month of prepaid t-mobile/at&t service to test their coverage. t-mobile has a $30/month prepaid 100 min, 5GB data, unlimited text plan. $30 * 4 = $120/month for service plus another $27/iPhone/month for 24 months. (or their Simple Choice $100/month for 4 lines, each line 1GB + unlimited everything else)

if you say you don't need 3G/4G, do you really want to pay the premium for Verizon's coverage?

 

[redgtxdi]

Ouch!!

Ya, I really don't care who it is anymore. I'm in So Cal (L.A. area) so I imagine I'm probably optimal for Tmobil.

But I'm gonna have to convince the wife.

I believe we're at around $150 total monthly right now so $268 makes me about sick.

I'll probably see what VZ's willing to offer anyway, but I just have a feeling it's going to look like a shoulder-shrug.

 

[s44]

Get them Moto Xes instead of iPhones.

 

[notposting]

If everyone has unlimited talk and text nowadays, the amount of data/coverage/cost is basically the whole equation (with some phone subsidy games thrown in as well).

Before, it was important for everyone to be on the same network, since you usually had some sort of free calling within networks (for instance, my ancient America's Choice II family plan on Verizon has this).

But now, you could realistically put everyone on their own network if you wanted and have it not really matter (except for the poor sorry sap on Sprint -- do you hate any of your kids? ).

Start pulling up usage totals as well, see if any low minute plans actually work for anyone (like the T-Mo plan mentioned above). See if you can get a discount with AT&T also.

 

[crashtestdummy]

Here's the breakdown of how it would with Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, assuming you'd get iPhone 5Cs for your kids on Verizon, or 4 iPhone 5Cs for your family on the other two:

Verizon (2-yr contract): $260/month (10GB/month shared)+2x$100 (new phones)=$6440 over 2 years or $268 monthly.

AT&T (Next): $160/month (10GB/month shared) + $84.60/month (4x iPhone 5Cs) + $200 ETF (wife's phone)=$6070 over 2 years or $253 monthly.

T-Mobile (no contract): $140/month (3GB/month each) + $2200 (4x iPhone 5Cs)=$5559.36 or $232 monthly.

This, of course, assumes you're buying high-end phones the whole way through. You can save a bit of money on all these plans (on Verizon by moving to edge) if you get cheaper phones. The difference between having 4 iPhone 5Cs and 4 Moto Xs is $800 ($33/month), and the difference between 4 iPhone 5Cs and 4 Moto Gs is $1400 ($58/month).

 

[crashtestdummy]

If everyone has unlimited talk and text nowadays, the amount of data/coverage/cost is basically the whole equation (with some phone subsidy games thrown in as well).

Before, it was important for everyone to be on the same network, since you usually had some sort of free calling within networks (for instance, my ancient America's Choice II family plan on Verizon has this).

But now, you could realistically put everyone on their own network if you wanted and have it not really matter (except for the poor sorry sap on Sprint -- do you hate any of your kids? ).

Start pulling up usage totals as well, see if any low minute plans actually work for anyone (like the T-Mo plan mentioned above). See if you can get a discount with AT&T also.

That's not quite true with T-Mobile. After the first two lines, the third, fourth, and fifth each cost $20/month for 3GB data. That's way cheaper than anything else you're going to get.

Edit: With the way Next and Edge are structured, it's also an advantage to be on a family plan if you're a moderate-usage family. It's only after 10GB that the per-line charges drop form $25 to $15, so unless you'd go higher on data per person, it's better for the whole family to be on the same plan.

 

[notposting]

That's not quite true with T-Mobile. After the first two lines, the third, fourth, and fifth each cost $20/month for 3GB data. That's way cheaper than anything else you're going to get.

Edit: With the way Next and Edge are structured, it's also an advantage to be on a family plan if you're a moderate-usage family. It's only after 10GB that the per-line charges drop form $25 to $15, so unless you'd go higher on data per person, it's better for the whole family to be on the same plan.

Oooooh good to know, if VZW ever takes my unlimited I'll have to see if it's still like that.

 

[agfkfhahddhdn]

Get your kids iPhones. Your kids want iPhones, I guarantee it. Make them get a solid case, though. They're going to drop the damn things.

 

[cronos]

Get your kids iPhones. Your kids want iPhones, I guarantee it. Make them get a solid case, though. They're going to drop the damn things.

It is likely, but I'd probably ask them first to be sure. Some kids are smarter than others, you know.

 

[bearxor]

I believe your area is extremely optimal for TMobile.

Have you looked in to Lumia 521's? You could get those for your kids and pay $30/mo for unlimited text, 5GB of data and 100 minutes. You could buy the Lumia's outright and do a post-paid plan for $80/mo for unlimited minutes/text and 1GB each.

You could even do MotoG if Android would be better.

 

[Trombe]

2013 droid maxx? It should work with T-Mobile AWS lte. If updated for Verizon LTE which went OTA already.

 

[redgtxdi]

Here's the breakdown of how it would with Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, assuming you'd get iPhone 5Cs for your kids on Verizon, or 4 iPhone 5Cs for your family on the other two:

Verizon (2-yr contract): $260/month (10GB/month shared)+2x$100 (new phones)=$6440 over 2 years or $268 monthly.

AT&T (Next): $160/month (10GB/month shared) + $84.60/month (4x iPhone 5Cs) + $200 ETF (wife's phone)=$6070 over 2 years or $253 monthly.

T-Mobile (no contract): $140/month (3GB/month each) + $2200 (4x iPhone 5Cs)=$5559.36 or $232 monthly.

This, of course, assumes you're buying high-end phones the whole way through. You can save a bit of money on all these plans (on Verizon by moving to edge) if you get cheaper phones. The difference between having 4 iPhone 5Cs and 4 Moto Xs is $800 ($33/month), and the difference between 4 iPhone 5Cs and 4 Moto Gs is $1400 ($58/month).

CrashTestDummy,

I don't want your work to go unnoticed!!! I don't know how I didn't get the update on this thead, but THANK YOU for printing the math like that. That REALLY helps!!

But note (I saw this while on the treadmill last night & had to rewind to make sure of what I saw).....Verizon is matching the AT&T $160 / 10GB plan that AT&T did. (Sounds like it took affect 2 days ago). I posted it in this forum as well just for a general consensus.

But now I'm wondering if that puts the advantage (at least for me) back in the Verizon court??

And keep in mind, I do get a (17%, I think) discount on Verizon thru my wife's work which, combined w/ the known-superior coverage may be what satisfies the whole family. (Happy wife, happy life?)

P.S. latest article on the new VZW plan ----> http://www.forbes.com/sites/markrog...its-plans-again-customers-win-contracts-lose/

 

[Joe C]

So, I'm around internet so much I really just don't need 3G/4G....but wife is 1year in already w her Droid Maxx & now she wants to get kids iPhones for graduation. Should I just jump in with both feet & go smart phones all the way around?

And how horribly raped will I get by Verizon if I stick w/ them? (we get small discount w/ wife's co.)

I know Tmobil's great right now but Verizon's network's king.

I know AT&T just did the 10GB shared for $160 which is good, but VZ's network's king.

Anything to know before walking into Verizon & getting raped?

Look into PagePlus. They use the Verizon network. Depending on each person's usage you could get a plan as low as $12 a month. 3G only though.